A Step Towards Performing Tahajjud Salaah

A common problem that arises during the Summer months, is regarding ‘Tahajjud Salaah’. One has the intention to wake up for Tahajjud, but because Fajr is quite early and Esha is late, many miss Tahajjud Salaah and then feel spiritually low …

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1. A Step Towards Performing Tahajjud Salaah

Hazrat Dr Abdul Hay Rahmatullah Alayh (Khalifa of Hazrat Thanwi Rahmatullah Alayh) mentioned : The ‘ilaaj (remedy) for a person who is finding it difficult to wake up for Tahajjud Salaah is that when one does happen to awaken at night, but feels very tired and feels lazy to perform his Tahajjud, then at least he should sit up on his bed and make Istighfaar at least three times.

There is a Hadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam (narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu) that mentions:Our Lord who is blessed and exalted descends every night to the lowest heaven. When the last one-third of the night remains, He says: Who supplicated Me so that I may answer him? Who asks of Me so that I may give to him? Who asks My forgiveness so that I may forgive him? ~[Sunan Abi Dawud]

The caller may proclaim, but if man is unconcerned and asks for nothing then what kind of attitude is this. So, at that time, at least one should say :

“Allah-hummagh-firli” …. Oh Allah, Forgive me!”

When a person does one good deed, then Allah Ta’ala will give him the Taufeeq of doing another good deed. Therefore, when a person makes Dua in this manner (“Allah-hummagh-firli”), then Allah Ta’ala will give him the Taufeeq of reading a few rakaats of Salaah. One should say to oneself, “I have at least awoken, now let me go and relieve myself”… After relieving yourself, tell yourself that you are awake now and let me make Whudu (ablution) … After that, you will Insha`Allah get the Taufeeq of reading at least 2 Rakaats of Tahajjud Salaah. So this is the benefit of at least saying : “Allah-hummagh-firli” …. Oh Allah, Forgive me! … It serves as an invitation to reading Tahajjud Salaah.

• Even if you do not get the Taufeeq of reading the Tahajjud Salaah at that time, at least your Dua will be heard…..as it is a time of acceptance of Duas.

• Besides Istighfaar, whatever other Dua you desire to make, should be made.

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2 .Salah Offered after Esha (Salaah) Will be Counted as Tahajjud Salaah

Hazrat Thanwi Rahmatullah Alayh has advised, that a person could read his Tahajjud when performing the 2 Rakaats Nafl of Esha Salaah (before the Witr Salaah). One could make the intention of Tahajjud Salaah then. Insha Allah you will be recorded amongst those who have performed the Tahajjud Salaah, even though one does not wake up in the late part of the night. A misconception that we have, is that Tahajjud will only be accepted if you sleep and wake up … Yes, the ‘ideal’ is when a person sleeps and then wakes up in the latter part of the night … BUT we are so weak, so instead of losing the whole Sawaab (reward) altogether, at least get the Sawaab of Tahajjud Salaah by reading your 2 Rakaats Tahajjud with your Esha Salaah. This much, you have secured, your Sawaab (reward) for Tahajjud Salaah by reading it after the Fard of Esha Salaah and before the Witr.

However one should not become altogether complacent and not make an effort to wake up for Tahajjud Salaah. If Allah grants a person Taufeeq to arise again, in the last part of the night, then one can perform a further Rakaats of Salaah.

This method is not baseless …

A Hadith of Rasullulah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam mentions : Hazrat Iyas ibn Mu’awiya Al Muzani Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasullulah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “Be sure to offer Tahajjud Salah though it may be as short as a goats milking. Any Salah offered after ‘Isha will indeed be counted as Tahajjud.(Tabarani)

~ Therefore, even if it may be a few short minutes of prayer (likened to the short time taken to milk a goat), but do offer some Tahajjud Salaah, even if it may be during the Esha Salaah.

3. Virtuous Deeds that Take One to Jannah

“[The believers are those] whose sides remain away from their beds, while they call on their Lord with fear and hope.” ~ Surah Sajda 32:16

Hadhrat Mu’az bin Jabal Radiallahu Anhu relates, “Once I was on a journey with Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam. One morning, at the time of Fajr, I asked, ‘O Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, Do show me such an action that will grant me admission into Jannah.’ Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam replied, ‘You have inquired about an extremely difficult affair, nevertheless it becomes easy for those whom Allah makes it easy. Worship Allah without ascribing any partners to Him, establish Salaah, observe the fast in the month of Ramadhaan, and perform Hajj of the Baitullah. Fasting is a shield, while charity extinguishes the fire of sin and so does a person’s Salaah in the darkness of the night.’ Thereafter Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam recited the above ayah.” ~ Ma’ariful Quraan vol.7

This Hadith highlights deeds that take one to Jannah. After enumerating all the deeds, Rasullulah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said : ‘And a little part of the night spent in the Ibadah of Allah’ …. So, stand before Allah in the darkness of the night (in Tahajjud Salaah) and submit your petition. This is one of those deeds that takes a person to Jannah …

We do lots of A’maal (good deeds) in Shariah, without realising the virtues and blessings and benefits attached to these acts of worship. Example : We make Whudu, but how many of us know the Sawaab (reward) for making Whudu? What is the benefit when performing Nafl Salaah or reciting some Masnoon Surahs?

We need to have Istihzaar (consciousness) of Fadhaail (virtues) and the blessings of the A’maal (deeds) that we are do……Why? … It will create more Shawq (yearning) in us to continue performing those good deeds. When the blessings are not in front of us, then at times we find ourselves gradually discarding it.

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4. Tahajjud Salaah is the Habit/Practice of the Pious and Devout Servants of Allah ~ A Special Invite from Allah

Hazrat Abu Umamah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasullulah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: Make it a point to observe Tahajjud prayer, for it was the practice of the pious before you (and it is the means whereby you can find) nearness to your Lord and (seek) expiation for the sins and (find) prevention from evil. (Tirmidhi)

This Hadith expounds the true quality of the sincere servants of Allah Ta’ala. They distance themselves from their beds in the darkness of night because of fear of attaining Allah’s displeasure and His chastisement while cherishing Hope of His Mercy and Rewards.

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